Tube tunnel construction



1931. G. F. PORTER ET AL 1,837,134

TUBE TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 12, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l 1 l l jmeniors:

9 G. F. PORTER ET AL 1,837,134

TUBE TUNNEL CQNSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 12. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 15, 1931. G F, PORTER L 7 1,837,134

TUBE TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 2, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 :9 1711187050215: R a N 741-1774 M 7 MA. 2 G

Dec. 15, 1931. cs. F. PORTER ET AL TUBE TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 12, 1931 4 SheetswShe et 4 2 [men/Z0719:

Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES rA-TENT OFFICE GEORGE E. PORTER, DECEASED, LATE or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, Er DETROIT TRUsT Oom- PANY, EXECUTOR, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AND ROBERT P. PORTER, OE DE ROIT,

MICHIGAN TUBE TUNNEI. OONSTEIIOTION Applicationl filed January 12, 1931. "Sam m. 502;,212.

This invention relates to tunnels and more particularly to tube tunnels adapted to be constructed in sections and assembled under a body of water. The tunnel sections are launched and then sunk under controlled conditions, then connected one with the other and the joint between the sections isthen' sealed and reenforced. a

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel construction ofjoint which will be rigid, stron and water-tight, and one that may be readily formed under water.

Inthedrawin s: p v

Figure 1 is a s de elevation of the adjacent ends of two tunnel sections assembled ready for sealing. I

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view'taken on the line III III ofFigure 4.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the joint with theform broken away to show the coupling members. I

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views taken on the lines VV, VIVI, and VII -VII, respectively, of Figure 3. I p

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numerals 2 and 3 designate a pair of adjoining tubular tunnel sections as a whole, each of which is composed of a steel shell or form 4 havin outside octagonalshaped diaphragm wal s 5 at spaced inter-' vals. The interior of each shell is provided with a concrete lining 6 and roof and road way portions 7 and 8, respectively. A' covering of concrete9 is provided on the outside of the shell 4 of a depth at least equal to the width of the diaphragms 5.

The tunnel sections are, in part, finished.

before placing; that is, the steel tube is built on shore, the bulkheads and certain of the tremie forms are placed before launching. While floating the major portion of inner and outer concrete is placedand as much work is done as possible. A short length of the shell or form 4 is left exposed at each end of the sections to permit the forming of the joint between the sections after they are positioned in the water. Suitable bulkheads or waterproof ends 9 are built in position inwardly of theexposedendportions of the shell or form- 4, and the sections'are then launched and floated to position. A trench ispreviously prepared to receive the sections and when the sections are floated into position they are weighted so as to be sunk into the trench as near as possible to the end of the previously mounted or placed section.

Each of the sections is'provided with a lip plate orflange 12 at one end which extends around the upper half of the circumference of the shell. The plate 12 is spaced from the shell 4 by a spacer late13 and is secured rigidly in POSltlOIl. Soupling castings are secured tothe flange or Ii 12 adjacent each terminal end thereof and comprise a back portion 15 secured to the flange 12and an out wardly' projecting coupling lug portion 17 ing of a coupling pin 19 therein.

The other endof each of the sections is provided with a flange or lip plate 22 which extends around the lower half of the circum ference of'the shell or form 4 and rojects outwardly therefrom on a line paral el with the shell. The plate 22 is spaced from the shell or form/1 by a spacer plate 23 and is secured rigidly in position. Coupling castings are secured to the flanges or lip plates 22 adjacenteach terminal and comprise a back portion 25 secured to the flange or lip plate 22 and an outwardly projecting lug portion 27 provided with an elongated aperture 28 to receive the coupling pin 19 carried the lugs 17 of the adjacent section.

The adjacent ends of the several sections of the tunnel are adapted to abut each other and the lugs 17 are adapted to overlie the lugs27 so that the pins 19may be mounted in the apertures18and 28 to couple the sections together. i I The endmost diaphragm walls .5 are spaced a material distance from the ends of the shells or forms 4 and the outside portion of the shells or forms beyond the endmost diaphragm walls 5 and the inside portion of the shells or forms beyond the bulkheads 9 are left exposed until the sections are assembled so that a proper reenforced joint maybe formed. Y

phragm walls with one of the flanges 33 of the channel 32 extending partly over the open side of the guideway. The guideways are spaced apart at the intersection of each of the straight edges of the diaphragm walls so as to permit the enteringof form plates in said guideways. g

The form plates 35 are adapted to fit loosely in the guideways 30 and the guideways are of such depth and the plates are of such width that the plates will slide freely in said guideways within the limits of the allowable variation in longitudinal position of the sections permitted'by the coupling lugs.

The plates 35 are provided with angle flanges 36 adapted to stiflen and prevent sidewise displacement of the plates 35. The space betweenthe form plates 35, shells or forms 4 and end diaphragm walls 5 is adapted to be filled with concrete 35 to close the joint between the tunnel sections. j

The shells or forms 4 are provided at each end with inwardly projecting angle flanges 37 adapted to have a sealing ring 38 secured thereto to form an. annular sealing space adapted to be filled with a plastic sealing material 39 suchas cement grout.

. The ring 38 may be formed from a plurality of plates or a single plate, as desired, andis secured to the flanges after the tunnel sections are assembled and the oint closed by the filling of concrete 35 The ring 38 is preferably riveted in positionand the holes for the rivets may be formed in one of the flanges 37 and in one edge of the ring in the shop, while the holes in the other flange and along the other edge of the ring are preferably made in the field so as to allow for the longitudinal variations in assembling the tunnel sections. It will be understood that, if desired, all the holes for the rivets used in securing the ring 38 to the flanges 37 may be formed in the field.

In assembling the tunnel sections after they have been sunk into position and coupled, the

form plates 35 are positioned in the guide-' ways 30 and the concrete 35 is poured into the space back of the plates 35 through a tremie so as to complete the outside layer of concrete and close the joint between the tunnel sections.

The joined tunnel sections are then entered from the land end and the bulkheads 9 are removed to permitthe workmen to assemble the sealing, ring 38 after which the plastic sealing material 39 is placed under. pressure to complete the joint between the sections. After the joint is completed the interior layer of concrete 6 may be completed across the joint to form a continuous lining. It will be noted that the guideways 30 and plates 35 together with the flanges 37 and sealing ring 38 serve to reenforce the joint between the tunnel sections as well as to retain the concrete used to seal said joint.

While We have shown and described one specific embodiment of our invention, it will be understood that we do not wish to be limited thereto, since various modifications maybe made without departing from the scope of our invention, as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A tube tunnel construction composed of a plurality of tubular sections adapted to be bodily lowered into position and connected one to the other, said sections each including a tubular metal form, coupling means adapted to form a loose coupling between the abutting ends of said sections, diaphragm walls extending around the outside of the metal forms of said sections at a point spaced from each end, guideways formed on said diaphragm walls, a series of form plates loosely mounted in and bridging the space between said guideways on the abutting ends of said sections, said diaphragm walls and said series of form plates comprising a form for concrete, flanges extending around the inside of the metal forms at each end and projecting inwardly an appreciable distance from the inner surface of said metal forms, sealing plates bridged across the space between and secured to the flanges on the abutting ends of said sections forming a continuous interior sealing ring over the oint between the abutting ends of said sections, and a concrete seal filled into the space bounded by said flanges, sealing ring, and metal forms.

2. A tube tunnel construction composed of a plurality of tubular sections adapted to be bodily lowered into position and connected one to the other, said sections each including a tubular metal form, coupling means adapted to form aloose coupling between the abutting ends of said sections, diaphragm Walls extending around the outside of the metal forms of said sections at a point spaced from each end, guideways formed on said diaphragm walls, a series of form plates having an inter locked sliding fit with said guideways and being looselymounted in and bridging the space between said guideways on the abutting ends of said sections, said diaphragm walls and said series of form plates comprising a form for concrete adapted to close the joint between the abutting ends of said sections.

3 A tube tunnel construction composed of a plurality of tubular sections adapted to be bodily lowered into position and connected one to the other, said sections each including a tubular metal form, coupling means adapted to form a loose coupling between the abutting ends of said sections, diaphragmwalls extending around the outside of the metal forms of said sections at a point spaced from each end, said diaphragm walls having their outer edges cut in a plurality of straight lines to form an octagonal shaped outline, channelshaped guideways mounted along each straight edge of said diaphragm walls, a series of form plates loosely mounted in and bridg ing the space between said guideways on the abutting ends of said sections, said plates being provided with flanges along each longitudinal edge adapted to engageflanges on said guideways to prevent sidewise displacement of said formplates, said diaphragm' walls and said series of form plates comprising a form for concrete adapted to close the joint between the abutting ends of said sections, flanges extending around the inside of the metal forms at each end and projecting inwardly an appreciable distance from the inner surface of said metal forms, sealing plates bridged across the space between and secured to the flanges on the abutting ends of said sections forming a continuous interior sealing ring over the joint between the abutting ends of said sections, and a concrete seal filled into the space bounded by said flanges, sealing ring, and metal forms. 4. A tube tunnel constructioncomposed of a plurality of tubular sections adapted to be bodily lowered into position and connected one to the other, said sections each comprising a tubular metal form adapted to have its inner and outer surfaces covered by a layer of concrete, coupling means adapted to form a loose connection between the abutting ends of said sections, the metal forms of said sections being provided with lip plates, said plates extending around substantially the upper half of the circumference of the form at the one end and around substantially the 1 lower half of the circumference of the form at the opposite end, said sections being lowered in position so that the end of the section having the lip on its lower half will receive the end of the section having the lip plate on its upper half, said lip plates extending an appreciable distance beyond the ends of said forms so as to overlap the abutting section and'serve as guides in alining the sections, diaphragm walls extending around the outside of said metal forms of said sections at a point spaced from each end, said diaphragm walls having their outer edges cut in a plularity of straight lines to form a multiple sided outline, channel-shaped guideways mounted along each straight edge of said diaphragm walls, a series of form plates loosely mounted in and bridging the space between said guideways on the abutting ends of said sections, said form plates being provided with flanges along each longitudinal edge adapted to engage flanges on saidguideways to prevent sidewise displacement of said form plates, said diaphragm walls and said series of form plates comprising a form for concrete adapted to close the joint between the abutting ends of said sections, flanges extending around the inside of'the metal forms at each end and projecting inwardly an appreciable distance from the inner surface of said metal forms, sealing plates bridged across the space between and secured to the flanges on the abutting ends of said sections forming a continuous interior sealing ring over theijoint between the abutting ends of said sections, and a concrete seal filled into the space bounded by said flanges, sealing ring, and metal forms.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

DETROIT TRUST COMPANY, Executor of the Estate of George F. Porter, Deceased.

By SELDEN B. DAUME; i Vice President. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.-

ROBERT P. PORTER. 

